Understanding The Impact of Ergonomics In The Workplace

[sc:date]Ergonomics is a topic that’s oftentimes overlooked or misunderstood among employers. Whether your workplace is a typical office setting or an industrial factory, you should carefully analyze ergonomics to ensure workers are given a safe, healthy environment to perform their professional duties. The term “ergonomics” literally translates from the Greek language into “work” and “laws,” which sums it up pretty well. For a closer look at the impact of ergonomics in the workplace, and steps you can take to improve it, keep reading.

So, what exactly is ergonomics? In short, it’s the science/relationship between a worker and his or her environment. The concept of ergonomics focuses on creating an ‘ideal’ work environment where physical stress is reduced. Physical stress in the workplace is typically caused by one of two different elements: environmental factors and employee motion. An example of an environmental factor is a poorly designed office chair which lacks lumbar support. An example of physical stress caused by employee motion is a worker bending their back (rather than their feet) to pick up a box or heavy object.

Allowing employees to work in an environment with poor ergonomics leaves them vulnerable to injury while reducing their overall efficiency and productivity. The truth is that most employers overlook the importance of ergonomics in the workplace. When employees are constantly stressed on a daily basis, their normal physical body functions gradually begin to decline. The same job they used to complete in an hour might take them an hour and a half now. And rather than showing up for their shift every day, they might call in sick once a month. It’s the subtle nuances such as this that really cut into companies’ revenue and ultimately their profits.

Another example of physical stress caused from poor ergonomics is when workers are forced to stand on hard concrete for long periods of time. This may not seem like an issue, but standing on hard surfaces for eight or more hours a day leaves workers vulnerable to a wide variety of injuries. See the list bellow for some of the most common types of foot injuries and conditions:

Plantar fasciitis

Bunion

Bone fracture

Stress fracture

Sprain

Osteoarthritis

Rather than completely renovating your workplace with new flooring, you can lay out anti-fatigue mats in high-traffic areas to improve its ergonomics. These mats are designed to create a softer, more comfortable area where employees can safely work.

About Travis Zdrazil

Travis has worked with spill containment products for over 20 years as a partner with PCI Products, AbsorbentsOnline.com. If you would like to know more about facility maintenance, absorbents, spill cleanup, spill containment or spill kits, contact me through absorbentsonline.com.